Background Image Alternative Text: Pre Med students Dr Rick deShazo talk

Occupational Therapy

A path to gain entry to occupational therapy program.

Interested in becoming an Occupational Therapist?

Click each box to learn more about what OTs do and what it will take to become one. 

What do Occupational Therapists do?

Occupational Therapists (OTs) help people across the lifespan participate in meaningful activities (occupations) despite physical, mental, or developmental challenges. They design therapy plans that improve independence, daily living skills, and quality of life.

Some of their responsibilities include:

  • Teaching patients how to perform daily tasks like dressing, eating, and writing

  • Designing adaptive equipment or recommending home modifications

  • Helping children with developmental delays succeed in school and play

  • Supporting individuals recovering from injury, stroke, or surgery

  • Working with older adults to maintain independence and prevent falls

 

Conditions treated by Occupational Therapists:

OTs address a wide range of conditions, including:

  • Developmental disorders (autism, sensory processing disorders)

  • Physical disabilities (cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, amputations)

  • Neurological conditions (stroke, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury)

  • Mental health challenges (anxiety, depression, PTSD)

  • Geriatric issues (arthritis, dementia, fall prevention)

More information about a career in Occupational Therapy can be found on  AOTA's website.

 

Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024), the median salary for Occupational Therapists was $96,370 per year.

 

Preparation and OT School Admissions

Bachelor’s Degree:

Required before entering a Master’s (MOT) or Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program in any major. 

  • Students often select majors in Psychology, Human Sciences, Educational Psychology, and Kinesiology

 

GPA:

Most OT programs require a minimum GPA of 3.0. A competitive GPA is usually 3.4–3.6 or higher, especially in  prerequisite coursework.

 

Prerequisites: 

Required classes for each DPT school will vary per program and can change at any time, so it is wise to periodically check your selected programs' websites, attend info sessions, and stay in contact with their admissions team. While not limited to or exclusive of, the courses below are examples of commonly required prerequisites for OT programs:

  • Psychology
    • General Psychology | PSY 1013
  • Developmental Psychology
    • Human Growth and Development or Developmental Psychology | EPY 2513 or PSY 3803 
      • Double check your target school's requirements for this and compare to course syllabi as well as your degree requirements before registering- particularly if the content must cover the life cycle from birth to death 
  • Abnormal Psychology
    • Psychological Disorders | PSY 3213 
  • Statistics
    • Intro to Statistics | ST 2113
      • Some programs may require a specific type of stats course like Inferential Stats, or they may not accept other types of stats like Behavioral or Business. 
  • Anatomy & Physiology 
    • Human Anatomy with lab | BIO 3004
    • Human Physiology with lab | BIO 3014
      • If taking combined A&P courses at other institutions, those cannot be combined with MSU's Anatomy or Physiology courses to fulfill this requirement. 
      • Courses from other professional programs or disciplines (nursing, military medical training, comparative, and non-human focused A&P) courses will likely not satisfy this requirement 
      • BIO 1004 at MSU will not satisfy any portion of this requirement. It is an introductory course.
  • Upper-level Kinesiology Elective 
    • Anatomical Kinesiology | EP 3233
    • Motor Development and Movement |  PE 3223
      • Double check your target school's requirements for this and compare to course syllabi as well as your degree requirements before registering 
      • Non Kinesiology majors will need to request an override to enroll in these courses: Override Request Form
  • General Physics I with lab | PH 1113
    • In the case of a professional school requiring 4 credit hours as opposed to “1 course” or “1 semester” of physics, Physics II/ PH 2223  may also be required to fulfill the hour requirement
    • Check with target programs and their preferences- some may prefer trigonometry based physics while others may not require it at all
Other requirements may sometimes include:

Biology I with lab | BIO 1134

Biology II with lab | BIO 1144 (not as common) 

Intermediate Writing | (varies)

Intro to Sociology | SO 1003

Medical Terminology | KI 2603

 

Observation/Shadowing Hours:

OT programs typically require about 20-50 hours of observation under licensed occupational therapists, often across multiple settings (pediatric, inpatient rehab, outpatient, etc.). It varies by program on the amount of hours, but the more that you see the more you will know! And that's particularly important when it comes to learning about your dream job. While observing, be as professional as possible and prepare questions that go beyond surface level. Ask them about what they consider to be the good and the not so great aspects about their field, their work-life balance, what they wish they would've known or done differently at your phase of life, etc. You will also want to stay in touch with these professionals as they could potentially become one of your evaluators or mentors someday.

 

Entry Exams:

The GRE is required by some programs, though some have phased out this requirement altogether. Always check the requirements of each school.

 

Involvement/Extracurriculars:

 

 Admissions committees can derive a skillset from anything that you do. For students who are working while in their undergrad, they may not be involved in as many clubs, teams, and organizations. And that is okay in the holistic review process! Our goal is to be a well-rounded pre-professional student and that will look differently for each individual. 

However, I do have one suggestion for membership at MSU:

 

Letters of Recommendation:

  • Most programs require 2–3 letters. This will vary per program, so be sure to check your target schools and their requirements. 

 

Service: 

At MSU, we pride ourselves in going wherever we are called to serve and volunteering our time to those in need. Volunteering for your local, campus, and/or abroad communities is not only rewarding, but it can also allow you to grow in ways that nothing else can teach you. Empathy and compassion are admirable qualities of a healthcare provider, and volunteering is a fantastic way to learn and showcase those qualities about yourself. Remember, we don't just say we are these things, we do the things to prove it. 

 

The Application (OTCAS):

Application Steps:

  1. Meet with your pre-health advisor to plan a timeline for personal statement, additional goals, and description boxes. 

  2. Verify prerequisites for each OT program.

  3. Collect letters of recommendation early.

  4. Complete observation/shadowing requirements- some schools will require their own signed form. 

  5. Take the GRE if required.

  6. Submit transcripts and apply through OTCAS.

  7. Prepare for interviews and continue gaining meaningful healthcare experience.

 

Mississippi OT Programs and National Directory 

University of Mississippi Medical Center Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program 

William Carey University Master of Occupational Therapy Program

National Directory for Occupational Therapy School Programs

 

 

For assistance in planning a pre-OT path at MSU, contact Claire Palmer